When it comes to choosing the right dehydrated or freeze-dried food for my dogs, the following are important to me: I look for food that doesn't have grains, white potatoes, or an abundance of synthetic vitamins. Currently I’m feeding my 50lbs 2 year old Aussie Darwin’s at $133/month. It is very expensive, though. I voiced a complaint as well and no one seemed bothered. Dehydrated garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. We adopted a 6 year old lab or golden retreiver/Catahoula Cur mix 7 months ago & he came with a plethora of issues. For wet dog foods, Stella and Chewy's provides more protein (about 7.67% more). A diet of dehydrated raw dog food is convenient, easy, balanced. I can go through a box or bag of dehydrated dog food quickly. If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Stella and Chewy's or The Honest Kitchen, I was on probably every allergy med out there and getting worse and worse. Every food type available, including dry, wet, freeze-dried, raw, and more.SAVE up to 15% with Auto … I ignorantly started him on Marvel because of the specific ingredients, but staff at THK suggested Embark ( no base mixes for puppies). I was told about Sojos “raw, freeze-dried” treats. Can you please tell me what variety you were feeding your kitty with IBD? The Honest Kitchen is no longer open to questions about their food, ingredients, or sourcing. Or could it be the protein that it’s in the food – are you alternating the options? This is a fairly small difference between Stella and Chewy's and The Honest Kitchen, but still worth mentioning. Anyway, although they both get homecooked now for other factors in no way related to THK. As a pet nutritionist, I am looking for direction. The moths are flour moths. Also on 3 different antibiotics. To be clear, I'm not saying Sojos is a bad food; it's just not the food for my dogs. We have tried other Foods by slowly introducing them into the diet and pretty much everything gives her bad diarrhea. Throughout this The Honest Kitchen vs Stella and Chewy's comparison, we've utilized Once she started on that food, she has literally had no problems whatsoever. The little one just turned 1 year old so she still has more growing and I have the feeling the food bill will go up too. I am hoping that eventually I can find an affordable way to provide her with better nutrition (as I continue to research) and omit the kibble entirely. Has anyone ever heard of their dog (s) developing itchiness while eating HK? Details Quick Shop. On average, Stella and Chewy's dry dog food recipes contain 10.63% more protein than The Honest Kitchen recipes. Great article, thank you! I contemplated blending, but wasn’t sure of the right proportions. Currently she is on prescription z/d dry dog food. I recently had the blood and liver checked on one of my dogs, and the results were right on the mark. I use both THK base mixes. Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. From $3.59. I was introduced to Sojos, a freeze-dried food, a year after I learned about The Honest Kitchen. I have cooked homemade food for for most of her life (She is almost 4) as I just do not love the idea of feeding commercial dog food. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, ZiwiPeak - Wet Otago Valley Recipe for Cats. Scout is unable to eat chicken and turkey. I think offer chicken necks, feet, etc every days, sardines and whole eggs. The Honest Kitchen has been recalled once. Although not bad, I’d to save money and I can do $Sojo’s for $70/month. Drs PUSH meds, Vets practice on your pet-they treat symptoms not roots. I was impressed. I'm raising four dogs that weigh between 60 and 75 pounds. My dog was on a frozen raw brand, and it was EXPENSIVE. With my dogs dancing around me while I’m prepping their food, Sojos and ONP take way too long – of course, I always forgot to prep it ahead of time. Blueberry is only about 40 pounds, give or take, so even though THK is pricey – it is still within my budget and her response to it has been great. I just wanted to comment about Sojo’s and THK. I call reviews about commercial dog food and supplements biased because I’m a crazy, obsessive dog mom. But then a fellow dog parent and THK customer shared how she feeds the food to her dog (more like a smoothy than instant oatmeal), and I was willing to give it another try. Stella & Chewy Freeze-Dried Patties Duck, Duck, Goose 14 oz. Sounds like you’re raising Blueberry right! I have left you a voicemail, contacted the pet store (Treates Unleashed in Leawood, KS) and gotten a refund for the food. I’m not sure about Australia, but I have fed my dogs goat, lamb, and venison from New Zealand. He stayed on it for years, it was the best thing that could have happened. Our results have been fantastic. So as long as your dog doesn’t have issues with grain free or starch, then you’re golden! We made the switch to Sojos and she LOVES it, but one of the main ingredients is egg which I have thought in the past was also something she didn’t do so well with, and her poops (although better consistency) increased from twice a day to three or four. So I suspect the food may have been the culprit. For more details, visit the Affiliate Disclosure page. Today, when I hear the phrase “dehydrated raw,” I giggle because if it's dehydrated, it's not raw. Clear up the diet and you achieve health for humans and pets. there are already bugs in our food. However, based on a simple recipe from Dr Judy Morgan, I mix in 1/2 cup of rehydrated THK the base mix (currently using Preference) into every 2 lbs of meat mix. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. Details Quick Shop. now that she’s transitioned over completely she doesn’t seem to love to eat it (very hesitant), and her lymph nodes are swollen and she’s coughing… My husband wants me to put her back on Sojos. Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. Plus, I can’t always get to the places near me that carry THK before they close…. You can purchase Stella and Chewy's pet foods from the following stores: You can purchase The Honest Kitchen pet food products from these retailers: In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers. I thought I understood transitioning him but it turns out (according to them) I gave him too much but I’m now very nervous to try again. Once his coat was all inn he stopped all scratching. Way better than we ate in the military together. I searched for the best food I could give her because on Merrick, she had very loose, watery stools and a lot of skin irritation which I know Pitbulls are prone to have but it broke my heart watching her constantly scratching and in such discomfort. My 10 pound Yorkie has Bladder Stone issues and her vet wants her to go on Commercial dog food (Royal Canin SO). Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Overall you would recommend THK, correct? It took me a LONG TIME to find a raw food that she liked and now back to square one. They have two base mixes that don’t have potatoes and my dogs do great on them. Stella and Chewy's The Honest Kitchen Open Farm Merrick Fromm Crumps' Naturals Almo Nature. My dogs are fed raw and have never had bladder issues. The Honest Kitchen — The first human grade food for pets . “The moths are flour moths. Stella & Chewy's raw coated kibble is protein-rich and has an irresistible freeze-dried raw coating. NOT. Second, would you say Sojos negatives outweigh the positives? The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Organic Grain Dog Food stabilizes a dog's digestive tract and improves the dog’s coat. Thank you for taking the time. I can't afford one and the other was acquired by WellPet. Thanks for clearing that up, Kevin – I’ll update this blog post with this news for others who come across my blog. The label says Made in the USA, but also says “Globally Sourced Ingredients-Nothing from China.” You mentioned that you don’t feed Sojos because of the connection to WellPet. $20.51 Tips & Advice From Sunset Pet Supply. all human grade, I’m not being smart but how can you afford NRG. I was in Chow Hound today & asked them about other treats that had limited ingredients and were sourced in the USA. Which THK would you recommend, grain free? to try & keep our costs down (it’s STILL expensive). July 2015 – Stella and Chewy's voluntarily recall 20 brands of their raw dog food due to possible Listeria contamination. Once in a while, he’ll eat organ meats, but that’s it. 99 ($2.31/Ounce) They are attracted to the biscuits because of the flour and they generally are only a problem with bulk biscuit bins, not in the bagged biscuits. A tad confusing considering HK is to help alleviate the issue. Some products do not have meat, and you can add your own organic protein to make the best homemade organic dog food. I'm returning to this post to update it with the dehydrated and freeze-dried dog foods I buy for my dogs after several requests. Stella and Chewy's Recall History List: Based on our research we found two different recalls of Stella and Chewy's dating back to 2015. She had dandruff. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider. EAT. ZiwiPeak - Wet Chicken Recipe (Cat Food) From $3.49. The Honest Kitchen Prowl Grain-Free Dehydrated Cat Food. Copyright© 2011-2020 Kimberly Gauthier. I didn’t have that experience. I am extremely worried about his calcium / phosphorus ratio since the vital essentials is prey model with no guaranteed analysis. $70 and a lot of time I have spent for six weeks tryng to get rid of these gnats. Chewy and her other dog, Stella, became her ‘testers’ and Marie quickly realized the benefits of this type of diet. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Additionally, I noticed that the show the sources on their website within the FAQ: https://www.sojos.com/frequently-asked-questions, I do like THK’s transparency even on their website but, freeze dried reserves more nutrients so should I go for Sojo’s freeze dried or THK dehydrated? I am a blogger, and all information shared is based on my personal experience with my dogs and research about raw feeding, canine health, and nutrition that I do for my dogs. I continued with that brand for a couple of months because I heard Merrick was a decent company until I found out they were acquired by Purina….well, that was the end of that. $4.99 The Honest Kitchen The Honest Kitchen Daily Boosters Probiotic Goat's Milk Liquid Treat for Dogs and Cats. There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. The only issue I have is the Prowl is high in carbohydrates compared to other dehydrated raw foods, which makes it … According to Chewy.com, The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Beef Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food is actually the recipe that started it all. Otherwise, I balance over time. We’ve been feeding Honest Kitchen 2-3 times/week for years and our four Shelties thrive on it. I suggest going with the food that your dog is doing well on and if you notice a change you don’t like, adjust. I think it is plain CRAP (I reserve that word for conditions of emphasis) I would NEVER, EVER, EVER believe a Vet on food choices because of WHO sponsors most of their training. Just thought someone should know. We feed her The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Fruit & Veggie Dehydrated Dog Base Mix. They now have resources and funds to provide their customers with more options; better options. I’m thinking of trying both THK & Grandma Lucy’s. It's easy, and I laugh that I was so put out about waiting 15 minutes (or however long it was) to hydrate Sojos. I haven’t fed raw protein, but I do rotate between beef, chicken, pork, and turkey. What are it’s benefits? First of all, THANK YOU for explaining the difference between dehydrated and raw!! That is until I calculated how much it would cost to feed a multi-dog home. The Honest Kitchen Review Page. of food when rehydrated with warm water. Every dog is different so I can’t speak to what a normal poop would be for your dog. She doesn’t love it. THK has feeding guides for adding meat so that is not a problem, however the ratios scare me since I do not want growth or joint problems. Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Stella and Chewy's. and The Honest Kitchen. And if Sojos is working for your dog, then you should stick with it. To make a REALLY long story short, my cat Vinny has IBD – over years of trial and tribulations, this was the ONE food/diet he liked AND could eat AND that gave him nice, solid poops. While The Honest Kitchen offers two grain-free base mixes, Sojos only has one, which does have sweet potatoes as an ingredient. ), but where I really save is time. One last thing, I tried a few different THK flavors before I settled on the limited ingredient fish but sometimes I have to add some organic fruit or something to get her to eat it maybe because she gets bored of the same food every day…but she usually licks the bowl clean…In your educated experience…Any thoughts on adding the chia seeds to her food as part of a well balanced diet? Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. But that’s a personal choice based on my dogs’ needs. By fermenting the vegetables, I’m making the nutrients more bioavailable (easy to absorb) for my dogs while also providing a great source of fiber and probiotics, which are great for gut health. bone, organs). I'm excited to announce my new online store and invite you to discover how you can get items for FREE! I then bought several cases of The Honest Kitchen when they offered a BOGO (buy one, get one free) sale on Kindly which was my favorite of their base mixes. FREE shipping on orders $49+ and the BEST customer service! Menadione sodium bisulfate complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide I do find THK and Grandma Lucy’s easier to rehydrate. For me, my cats homemade diet costs about the same per month as THK (unless I have coupons or get the food on sale! 50% Carbohydrate seemed rather high as well. Kimberly Gauthier, Dog Nutrition Blogger and Raw Feeder in Marysville, Washington, sourced ingredients (one or two of the vegetables) from China. Cooper has so many health issues, allergies among the lot, and it’s pretty much the only thing we can feed him other than home cooked. ZiwiPeak - Wet Hauraki Plains Recipe for Cats. How did you become a certified pet nutritionist? Stella and Chewy Dog Food Reviews of Ingredients. And I have kept my sink drains all closed because I am not sure if they have laid a bunch of eggs in the kitchen sink. Quite a jump from one kitchen in a small apartment! ~Cam. ), antioxidants (carotenoids, flavonoids, etc.) When I finally got him to quit his kibble habit, I began feeding Cosmo wet food along with freeze-dried raw. The ingredients in their food are minimal and impressive. Add a Boost of Nutrition to Your Dog's Diet * 95% meat, organs and bone I discovered that the reason I have an infestation in my apartment of fungus gnats, since I first started using your dog food, is that the food is full of them. We take a box/bag with us and add fresh meat if I find a good deal at local stores where we happen to be. Thank you! Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic. I feed Vital Essentials Raw to my cat because he wasn't interested in eating raw. We are in the no-fun zone. The dandruff and itching went away. She wouldn’t even eat Sojos.) I also have struggled with the freeze dried vs dehydrated and/or just plain regular, but healthy human food. Although Sojos was a great brand at one point, once Sojos partnered with Wellness, I simply couldn’t get behind recommending that brand to any longer. Hello Kimberly. Shop Chewy for low prices and the best The Honest Kitchen! To properly Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. My dog recently reacted to her food, we think it was the chicken. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty. Also, Wellness now has a “raw revolution” campaign in which bloggers are calling their kibble, RawRev, a “raw food diet.” I have trouble with brands who blatantly mislead their customers through their marketing. Unfortunately it has potatoes and she is allergic. In fact, we are road-tripping over the next couple of weeks and an unopened bag of ONP freeze dried grain free turkey and the remaining 1/4 box of THK Embark are coming with us. This blog is only my personal feelings and those shouldn’t trump what you think is best for your dog. My question is about how I’ve read that dehydration is bad, and The Honest Kitchen dehydrates their food. Read This Before Diving Into Warming/Cooling Foods for Your Dog, https://www.keepthetailwagging.com/drharveys, https://www.sojos.com/frequently-asked-questions. It tends to stop itchy spells or loose stools. Anyway, I dont want to sound like I work for THK, I just really like this brand for my dog….she does really well on it and even though 1 box every 3 weeks is pricey, I feel it’s worth it and thankfully I’m in a position to get it for her without having to sacrifice financially in other areas. At the anniversary sale, I spoke with a representative who told me about the food, and I bought a HUGE bag of their turkey recipe (I didn't know about Rodrigo's allergies at the time). This doesn't mean that I will be offering nutrition consultations; it just means that I know more about how dog food is made and the ingredients than the average pet owner. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins. I wonder if this is because The Honest Kitchen now has investors or if the increase in. A new kind of food for dogs that's uniquely air-dried to be healthier, tastier and easier. A few years ago, I didn't understand the difference between dehydrated dog food and freeze-dried dog food. *This is a comment from a reader to address the flying insects I mentioned above. I was feeding her the dry food mixed with some of the dehydrated patties and thought something was off – especially when she came down with a case of diarrhea that lasted longer than is normal for her. Have you taken them off the food to see if the itchiness goes away? I add seeds to the mix because they come with a host of benefits too. Thanks for all your help and honest opinions! For people looking for a base mix or freeze-dried food to feed to their dogs, I point them towards Dr. Harvey’s. She believes they came from the food so it’s interesting that you mention that here as well. A 10 lb. I’m so glad to hear that you think it is a good food too. I was afraid of missing or adding too much. fiber and moisture. Thanks for sharing, Jeanne – although you had to go back to kibble, I think it’s amazing that you continued to add fresh food to your dog’s diet. Although still a source of sugar and carbs, sweet potatoes are nutritionally superior to white potatoes and offer more anti-oxidants. When food is dehydrated, heat is used to evaporate the water from the ingredients. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers. Thanks for your blog post about this subject! Thank you so much for sharing. This commitment assures for the best quality products and highest levels of food safety. The Honest Kitchen has 6 formulas (one more grain free formula coming out later this year will make it 7 formulas soon), half of which are grain free and half containing grain, and all of them are dehydrated. The analysis Cats require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Regular price from $29.99 Sale price from $29.99 They recommend HK but I can only afford the grain kind and barely can afford. You can check out my recipe here: https://keepthetailwagging.com/ferment. I current make a homemade diet but I am worried about it not being balance plus its not that convenient. Both of my dogs are rescues and they weren’t in the best shape when I brought them home. I hope that it helps others. He is the one cat ever who WILL. A couple of readers recently asked me to update my post that compares The Honest Kitchen to Sojos. They are indeed fungus gnats, confirmed by an exterminator. Honest co does not sell goat. Although Sojos informs consumers that their diets are complete and balanced to meet AAFCO standards, they don't offer sourcing information about their ingredients. A couple of readers recently asked me to update my post that compares The Honest Kitchen to Sojos.It's been a while since I've fed either of these to my dogs (a year for The Honest Kitchen, longer for Sojos) and I think this is a very good time to explain why I no longer feed these brands to my dogs – Spoiler Alert! While DIY is a lot of work, it’s easier to balance for me when I make food in large batches. To me, that’s the free food that’s about to be thrown out. 12,638 talking about this. White potatoes have more carbs, which makes them a potential problem for overweight (Sydney) dogs. In this comparison article for Stella and Chewy's vs The Honest Kitchen, we'll Articles may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent of Kimberly Gauthier [that’s me!]. I don’t think the bugs would have harmed my dogs, but I don’t want to spend money on food or treats that have bugs reproducing in the containers. Wow! Regular price $39.99 Sale price $39.99 Regular price $0.00 Unit price / per . I don't believe dogs need grains in their diet, and I also found the recipes to be too rich for my dogs; a meal was too heavy on the digestive system, even for Sydney and Zoey, two dogs with an iron stomach. Thanks for any help with this. The reason I still love THK is that they put a lot of thought into their ingredients and the quality can’t be matched by similar brands. brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). as well as potassium, iron, copper and fiber.” Source: The Honest Kitchen. Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamins C, B6, beta-carotene, and manganese. Any thoughts or suggestions? Stella and Chewy dog food reviews point to the freeze-dried pet food as being more convenient for most owners, so I’ll do an in-depth analysis of Stella & Chewy's Chewy's Chicken Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Dog Food. I, Kimberly Gauthier (owner), am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As I stated in the post (sorry for repeating myself), I’ve seen their treats in multiple pet stores with flying bugs in them and that turned me against the brand. WellPet also owns Old Mother Hubbard dog treats – these are dog treats that are kept in open bins in local pet stores, and when you dig your scooper in, moths (or some flying insect) comes out. The vomit was terrible and continues until it was only spit/foam multiple times. Right now, it's the Dog is Good clothing and so much more is coming. SEE THE HONEST KITCHEN WEBSITE HERE. Grandma Lucy’s is another freeze dried brand in the same price range with more protein options. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, They feel that she will need to be on the RX food for the rest of her life as a preventative. Is that a good place for them to get it from? A little goes a long way with this human-grade dog food. My question is do you think he is ok on the Embark plus raw? They’ve loved both brands and eaten those foods with gusto. It's much more affordable to do DIY raw feeding and, I don't agree that a diet that is high in. We are compensated for referring customers. It is time-consuming and definitely more expensive to feed her but it is worth it! I love your idea of incorporating THK into a recipe. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. We all know a dog’s flatulence can clear a room. Also, some fresh food is better than none. There are three brands that I buy for my dogs: If you are looking for a low-carb, low-glycemic base mix that is high in quality vegetables and other ingredients, then check out Dr. Harvey's. Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Stella and Chewy's. We love THK. Thank you for taking the time to blog about higher quality dog foods. I alternate their Raw Vibrance and Paradigm with my fermented vegetables/seed mix when feeding my dogs. On average, Stella and Chewy's guarantees about 11.18% more protein than The Honest Kitchen. Itchiness can be frustrating because there are so many things that could be the culprit . As you can see, Stella and Chewy's and The Honest Kitchen guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber. Raw Feeding 101 - Learn to Transition Your Dog to Raw Dog Food. protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude I, too, am a Certified Holistic Pet Health Specialist, and am very well-versed in the area of holistic nutrition. Of course, I understand that this may change with these brands in the future, but, for now, I don't feel comfortable with either brand. They have some grain-free formulas, too. I prefer homemade to THK because I like controlling the ingredients and I don’t like the idea of adding starch to my dogs’ diet (grain-free) or unnecessary grains. I have had need for training treats, and our vet recommended Stewarts freeze dried beef liver-only one ingredient and made in the USA. We tend to do fish only once per week. Overall, I would definitely recommend THK. It's been a while since I've fed either of these to my dogs (a year for The Honest Kitchen, longer for Sojos) and I think this is a very good time to explain why I no longer feed these brands to my dogs – Spoiler Alert!